Section 66 A of IT Act 2008 is related with

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

Kerala PSC Common Preliminary Exam (GRADUATE LEVEL) PYP - 096/21

Answer 1

The correct answer is Sending offensive messages.

Key Points

Section 66A of the IT Act, 2008, was designed to address issues related to sending offensive messages electronically.
It criminalized sending messages that were offensive, false, or caused annoyance, inconvenience, or insult.
The section was introduced to curb misuse of technology and maintain online decorum.
However, it was struck down by the Supreme Court of India in 2015 in the landmark Shreya Singhal vs. Union of India case, citing it as unconstitutional due to its vague and arbitrary nature.

Additional Information

Hacking Computer System (Option 2): Hacking refers to unauthorized access to computer systems, typically with malicious intent. It is covered under Section 66 of the IT Act, 2000, which deals with punishment for hacking.
Failure to Maintain Records (Option 3): Under the IT Act, companies and intermediaries are required to maintain certain records. Failure to do so is addressed under Section 67C, which mandates the retention of information by intermediaries.
Using Password of Another Person (Option 4): Using someone else's password without authorization is considered an offense under Section 66C of the IT Act, which deals with identity theft.
Section 66A – Additional Information:
- Section 66A was controversial because it was often misused to curb freedom of speech and expression online.
- The Supreme Court struck it down, stating that it violated Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech.
- Post its removal, other legal provisions like Section 67 (obscene content) and Section 69 (cybercrimes) are now used to address similar issues.